Administrator replaces BC agency employers association. (General).

VICTORIA -- The BC government has replaced the board of the Community Social Services Employers Association with a public administrator who will prepare for a move to regional governance system.

The association, which provides labour relations services to about 700 social service agencies, receives more than $3 million from the Ministry of Children and Family Development and several other ministries each year with no direct cost to the employers.

Members are contracted to government to provide services to vulnerable people including those with mental handicaps, children and families, people in community justice programs, day cares and other childhood-related programs. Others serve aboriginal people, women in transition houses or sexual assault centres, and people in employment training, settlement and immigrant services.

Services will continue to all of the above under the association's umbrella. The Ministry of Children and Family Development is planning to move decision-making for these services to regional authorities. The government believes these changes require a new model of labour relations for the social services sector.

Peter Cameron, the administrator, is a former member of the Labour Relations Board with 20 years' experience in public-and private-sector unions. He will recommend changes in governance and operations while ensuring the association's collective bargaining obligations are met. The trusteeship is expected to be in place until the spring, when the board of directors will be reconstituted.

About 300 collective agreements in the social services sector will expire March 31, 2003. Under the Labour Relations Code, notice to commence bargaining can be given by either party as early as Dec. 1, 2002.